i am trying to change the inner tie rods on an 02 taurus, i got the special tool from autozone and it fit's fine over the replacement tie rod, but will not fit on the tie rod that it on my car now. the problem it the the tie rod on my car has an area that is raised up and larger than the hexed area that the special tool fits over(i don't know how to explain this). check out the picture below(which i found elsewhere on this site):

you can see that the area that is rounded and larger than the hexed area that my arrow is pointing to. the special tool will not fit over this, and even if it did, it would be too big to contact the hexed area anyways for me to be able to turn it.

i went to autozone and the tool they gave me didn't fit. then i went back up there and asked if they had one that will work on my 02 taurus, and he brought out the same tool, but with some sort of open-ended sleeve attachment, which also didn't fit, this time the attachment was too big. that was the only attachment they have. i then went to harbor freight and they don't have that tool in stock.

even my mechanic doesn't have this tool, but one of the guys that works there has it at home and will bring it tomorrow if need be, but i really want to find some place that has it so that i can buy/rent it today. also called sears, they dont have it either.

i know it's your picture, i read your write up on changing the inner tie rod.

i have never heard of o'reilly automotive, is it like an autozone? eitherway, i ordered the tool from amazon.com for $45. i ordered it this morning with 1 day shipping, and it told me the estimated arrival date is mar 18 or 19, which is actually like 3-4 business days... WTF??? oh well, nobody in my city sells this tool, or rents it, i have called everywhere.

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